"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is He that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him. When Herod the king had heard [these things], he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him" (Matthew 2:1-3, emphasis added). Herod, troubled? And everyone in Jerusalem? Strange, considering the Jews were waiting for the Messiah. What makes their attitude even stranger is that the chief priests and scribes knew where He was to be born, because they were able to tell the king (vv. 4-6). Why weren't they looking for Him themselves?
The Bible tells us that Herod asked the wise men to find the baby Jesus, and report back to him. They agreed, and went on their way. Once they saw the star over the house, "they rejoiced with exceeding great joy" (v. 10). They had found Him, the Promised One! Going in, they worshipped Him, and presented their costly presents (v. 11). Notice, they gave Him the best that they had to offer.
Whether they spent the night there or someplace else, we don't know; but the Bible does say that God warned the wise men through a dream not to return to Herod with the glad news. Rather, they were to go back to their own country via another route.
When Herod figured out that his directions hadn't been followed, he was very angry--"exceeding wroth", as the Bible puts it. His fury was murderous; he killed all the children two years old or younger in Bethlehem and her coasts. What a tragedy!
We know that Herod committed this act to prevent this King from usurping his throne; but reading this made me think of the verses in John which say this about Jesus: "He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. He came unto his own, and His own received Him not" (John 1:10-11). Herod most likely didn't know Who Jesus was; but often people who do know Who He claimed to be manifest the same hatred towards Him as Herod did. The question is, why?
Why do we not hail the news of the King of Kings with as great joy as the wise men? In John chapter one, verse 9, Jesus is called "the true light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world." It is this Light that men do not know, this Light that men do not receive, as the following two verses point out. Why don't men receive this light? "For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved" (John 3:20). Herein lies the answer. We have enthroned our evil selves as kings of our hearts, and we are anxious to be rid of Him, just as Herod was. Yes, rid of Him, lest we have to deal with the slightest suggestion that we are in the wrong, and that we should relinquish our kingdom to Another (even if it isn't in a coercive manner) Who can reign better than we. Yet, at the same time, our own rule hasn't been peaceful, and is quite wearying, to say the least. Our kingdoms are in shambles. What a quandary!
This King, King Jesus, has the power to rebuild them if only we will consent to abdicating and being His subject. Sad to say, we cannot abdicate on our own, no matter how hard we try. No, unfortunately not. The good news is, if we but admit this, King Jesus will freely grant us the power to abdicate. And once we take hold of it, we shall enjoy many prosperous years. So many, in fact, we will wonder why we didn't seek Him out to rule from the very first!
Blessings,
Jean
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